The Ferby

The first weekend in May has always been one of my favorite weekends of the year.  I have been fortunate enough to have family living in Louisville, providing me with free lodging and accommodations for the Kentucky Oaks and Derby for the past five plus years.  Every year, a group of us make the trip down from Chicago for the festivities, and every year we have clearly taken maximum advantage of the situation without even realizing it. 

This year, however, everything has changed.  I feel like such an outsider as I am no longer a "local" and have been forced to rummage through the limited hotel options and their outrageous costs that have been jacked up so high they look like Courtney Love on a good day.  You see, my parents have recently relocated to Houston, leaving all of us left to fend for ourselves against the chaos that is the Kentucky Derby.

Being the responsible adults that we are, we have carefully weighed our options and, ultimately, decided that we would not be able to do it up the way we are used to and, in a unanimous decision, determined it was in our best interest to take this year off.  Have no fear, we will be back in action for 2013, but the 2012 Run for the Roses will have to be enjoyed in the comfort of our own backyard.  We have opted to head out to Arlington Park to take it all in via live broadcast in what we are now referring to as: The Ferby (Fake Derby).  Sure, the mint juleps will not taste as sweet, the tailgate situation may be non-existent and I probably will not be as excited when I win my millions, but we will still be able to fill that Derby void as we place our bets and enjoy the day.

Although it is likely just as effective of a strategy to choose the winners based on the names I like best, I like to do my research on all of the horses and jockeys in the field before I make my final decisions on who I intend to throw my money away on each year.  I mean I really get into it - I will look at the races throughout the past year, where the horses finished, did they do best on turf or on dirt, who was the most consistent jockey when the horses finished in the top three, were any of the Derby contenders in the same races and where did they finish in comparison to one another, when was the last time the horses ran, what were their workout times during the past week, etc.  I have also really made an effort to familiarize myself with the jockeys and trainers throughout the past few years, so I am able to accurately determine "who is hot and who is not" leading up to the Derby race.

I like to think I am more than just a girl in a big hat when Derby weekend rolls around.  I take pride in being a part of the tradition of it all and I find myself impressed by the horses themselves more and more as each year passes.  They are so insanely beautiful and intense all at the same time.  Inevitably, I always end up mad at myself for enjoying an activity that clearly wears and tears on these gorgeous creatures - what can I say, the animal lover in me will always prevail - but the feeling you experience when you see (and hear) the stampede of horses as they round that last turn and head into the final stretch is a feeling that I could never even begin to explain.  The level of excitement you feel as you are watching the race and that feeling of uncertainty of how it may turn out.  Your adrenalin is rushing and your heart is beating a million miles a minute on the off chance that you might actually hit the jackpot.  To say it is a complete whirlwind of emotions would be an understatement.  There is a reason the Kentucky Derby is referred to as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," and it lives up to its reputation year after year.

I am still in the process of researching to determine who I will be backing this year and who my final picks will be.  Once they draw post positions this week, I will have a better indication of what my decisions for the weekend will hold as we head out to the track on Saturday morning.  I know it will not feel the same as it has these past five years, being in on the live action down in Louisville, but I am excited to be able to continue on the tradition of participating in the Derby madness in at least some capacity!

 

 

Lazy Sunday

Sunday is such a bittersweet day of the week. It is almost always pleasant and relaxing, but usually around dinner time I start to dread work the next day and get totally depressed that the weekend has come to an end.

Because we are sinners in our household, we skip any church or religious related activities and opt for sleeping in and enjoying each others company. I think that is what God would have wanted for us anyway.

Sunday is our day of rest (and laundry, and errands, and the day to catch up on all of the good TV shows we may have missed throughout the week)....

....next up, Game of Thrones!

Working [out] For The Weekend!

Once Saturday morning roles around, my sights are always set on the food situation for Saturday night. I am such a fat kid at heart....

I would not say I am a full blown "foodie" per se, but my husband and I definitely have "foodie" tendencies - no doubt. Food has become a form of entertainment for us and our friends on some level. Every great night starts with a great meal where we are able to enjoy good company and relax over a glass of wine, a refreshing beer and good eats.

Living in Chicago with so many great chefs and culinary masterminds, it is almost impossible not to be drawn in to the restaurant scene. From high-end, world renowned Michelin Star operations to local, neighborhood establishments,Chicago runs the gamut. Varying price point options often help us determine what selections are best suited for our outings as well - special occasions call for a special meal, after all!

More so than our passion for food, however, is our passion for fatty foods. Pizza, cheeseburgers, fried chicken, BBQ and all things in between. And because I am the biggest sweet tooth on the planet, go ahead and super size the dessert options. I cannot resist the temptation of a flour less chocolate cake with a side of gelato. What can I say? I have no will power.

What I can say is that I have finally established a set protocol - or damage control, if you will - to accommodate my bad habits. Tracking my food, eating healthy during the week and cheating on the weekends, combined with exercise at least five days a week, has proven to be my secret weapon.

Simply put, I will run two extra miles on any given day to make sure I can house a hot fudge sundae later that night. I workout because I love pizza and spaghetti and ice cream and cupcakes  have taught myself how to maintain a healthy lifestyle without depriving myself of my favorite things. I have educated myself on reading nutrition labels to ensure I am not consuming more than an actual serving size (yes, I am that girl who will count out the twenty-eight pretzel sticks so that I know it is only one serving), and that I am maximizing my daily caloric intake with the most quality food sources I can.

Most importantly, I also allow myself one "treat" per day during the week as well. Now do not be fooled, I try to make sure this is a healthier treat option - such as: Skinny Cow ice cream bars, Swiss Miss Sensible Sweets/Diet Hot Chocolate, etc. I would be lying if I told you it satisfies my sweet cravings entirely, but it definitely helps to curb them and get me through the week.

So maybe Friday will be your "bad food" night out, or Saturday, or sometimes it may even be both!  Just make sure to add one more day of exercise to your schedule that week to counteract your "addictions" -  remember, it is all about balance and moderation!

....off to dinner!

Friday Favorites

Friday! The perfect day for a fun and simple post.... I have a lot of favorites this week:

• Girls on HBO - if you have not had a chance to catch this show, you definitely should.  I see it is getting some strong criticism, but my husband and I are loving it.  What are your thoughts?!   

• No chip manicure - amazing!  I cannot believe I have not tried this until now.  No smudges, chips or imperfections and I am told it will last for at least two times as long as a normal manicure.  We shall see!

• NFL Draft - I love everything about the NFL and Draft weekend always gets me so excited for the season ahead.  Here's to success in rounds 2-7 for my Cincinnati Bengals - Who Dey!

• Cucumber, tomato and onion salad with feta cheese crumbles - so easy and delicious. Just add a little olive oil and salt/pepper to taste.  I cannot get enough of this!

• FaceTime - my husband has been gone all week and now that we are both spoiled with our own iPads, this has been a great way for us to communicate when one of us is on the road.

What are you loving this week?

Ooops...One More Thing!

Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad!  Without whom, I would not have been possible....

Dear Mom....

Last weekend we hit a major milestone in my family: my mother retired after almost 35 years with the federal government.  And not only did she retire, but she was able to officially do so on her 55th birthday - talk about one of the best birthday gifts EVER!  Trust me when I say she really went out with a bang.  Her colleagues/friends were so sweet and really did it up nice for her. 

Thursday evening they arranged a more low-key, relaxed party at a local establishment where the turnout was amazing.  I was expecting maybe a handful of people when we arrived from Chicago, but the place was packed.  Probably 30 + people!  It was great to see my mom in a social setting with her colleagues who clearly think so highly of her.  My dad was able to fly in from Houston that day to join the festivities as well, so that was perfect (more on that another time...).  The only thing missing was my brother, sister-in-law and adorable little niece, but they were able to make it down from Indy in time for the official bash at the courthouse the next day.

Friday was a bittersweet experience for my mom, I could tell.  As happy as she was to be retiring and have her entire family there to share it with, it was such an emotional experience for her to be walking away from such a major part of her life.  I was in awe of how many people my mom has touched along the way and how upset they all were to see her go.  There were probably close to 50 people in attendance - many retired judges and FBI agents who my mother had not seen in years.  She felt so blessed to be in such great company as stories were told in her honor.  Multiple people were brought to tears as they showered my mom with love (and swag - she got some Tiffany's jewels and a new iPad!) and some were even unable to finish their thoughts when they stood up to speak!  I have known for a long time that my mom was good at her job, but it was really an eye opening experience to see just HOW exceptional she has been throughout all of these years, all the while maintaining her superior status as a mother and wife.

Only recently has my mom told me that after I was born she asked to be brought on as a part-time employee, but they - in so many words or less - told her to take a hike.  As much as she did not want to do it, and as bad as she felt leaving me, she held her head high and went back to work as planned.  Three years later, when my brother came along, I know it was a tough decision for her then as well, but she did it.  She has often told us how badly she felt about not being a stay at home mom for us, but I could never really understand why? 

My brother and I had an amazing childhood.  We grew up in the same town where our parents were raised and our grandparents were always right around the corner.  We were both extremely active in sports and extra curricular activities and my parents never missed ANYTHING that we were involved with.  As an adult, I now appreciate all of this, but still do not know how they did it.  My dad traveled for work a decent amount and my mom worked full-time, yet they managed to be there for us every day of the week - literally.  Between the two of us - swimming, basketball, tennis, football, soccer, golf, baseball and throw in your occasional school-related function - they never missed a beat.  For me, that meant dragging me to swim practice at 5am every morning and being there to pick me up after 7pm when the school day and second practice had ended during the week and then traveling on the weekends to whatever major meet destination I had throughout the Midwest.  COMMITTED.

 

My friends and I always joked - still do - that my mother never slept when we were growing up.  She would always be up, even when we would get home from a late night in high school or when we were home from college.  I know now that it is because she worried about us and needed to know that we got home safely.  Typical mother....But her retirement activities really got me thinking about all of these things. 

My mom was 26 years old when she had me, I am now 28 with no real signs of being prepared - mentally or physically - to have children.  My brother, on the other hand, went in the complete opposite direction.  He got married right out of college and welcomed his first child a month before his 24th birthday.  I realize people choose to take different paths, and that is OK, but my mom's retirement has allowed all of these thoughts to surface organically....in a good way, of course! 

It is so crazy to experience your adult life coming to fruition and begin to understand just how much children take away from their parents without realizing it.  I like to think I am the perfect mix of my parents - which I think I am...now.  It is no secret that I am more my father's daughter, but the older I get I appreciate and respect my mom and the sacrifices she has made for our family more and more with each passing day.  What I can only hope for is that as I continue on my journey and encounter the blessings - and obstacles - that life throws my way, that I do it with the same devotion, grace and positivity that my mother has done for so many years. 

Here's to my mom, as she begins her well-deserved retirement! 

My Voice Should Be Heard

Everyone should be aware that I have a mild obsession with singing shows.  So much so that it was taking up almost all of the space on our DVR at one point, until my husband was forced to restrict me to just two singing shows per year.  I wish I were kidding...  If I am being completely honest, I also often sneak in episodes of American Idol or Glee when my husband is traveling and I have been known to arrange impromptu late night Korean karaoke excursions from time to time.  So maybe this obsession goes well beyond singing shows alone...My name is Ali and I am an addict.

This year, I chose my two shows wisely.  Simon says, so I obviously turned my back on Idol and started tuning in to his new show, The X Factor.  I was so disappointed.  Aside from the obvious differences from Idol - Pepsi vs. Coke, Verizon vs. AT&T - the show itself was more about the judges rather than the talent.  They were, at times, simply mean to everyone who was not on their own team and did not appear to be objectively judging anything.  Only when Paula's groups were all voted off was there, finally, a voice of reason.  If she is what a show is reliant on to succeed, there is a serious problem.  Of course, I watched the entire season and, thankfully, the most deserving singer won...What?  I had already committed, people!

Moving on to choice number two - The Voice.  This is my favorite vocal competition on TV and, in my opinion, has the best overall concept - hands down.  This was a no brainer.  My friend, Tom, and I provide commentary on a weekly basis and trust me when I say we hold nothing back.  As a weekly feature, I would like to re-cap these shows by showcasing our banter (or texts rather) verbatim.  So from this week's Team Adam vs. Team CeeLo performance and elimination episodes, see below:

Warning: The following contains the use of profanity and clear signs of A.D.D.



Ali (7:20pm): PS - I've not watched The Voice from last night yet, so no spoilers!

Tom (7:22pm): Good call - was about to start the commentary

Ali (8:02pm): Mmmmk.  I just started last night's episode.  Sorry, I got sucked into Glee b/c they were doing Whitney.

Ali (8:03pm): First and foremost - Adam went from UBER hot/sexy to total douche with that new haircut.  This has been bothering me for a couple of weeks now.  He keeps wearing f'ing button downs that look like they are choking him.

Tom (8:03pm): My mom has a crush on him and said he looks like a convict now.

Ali (8:04pm): I had a maaaaaajor crush on him and now I am saddened.

Tom (8:05pm): When anyone does the top button on a flannel, they automatically look like a thug.

Ali (8:05pm): CeeLo has gas!

Tom (8:05pm): Haha.  I thought his team performance was the tits.

Ali (8:06pm): I haven't seen it yet, but they are struuuuugling to get through this intro because he keeps shitting his pants.  I'm dying.

Tom (8:08pm): Haha.  I was wondering what they were freaking out about, I wasn't paying attention yesterday.

Ali (8:08pm): Hilarious.  Adam goes, "you smell like a fart."

Ali (8:09pm): I kinda love Jamar Rogers, but hate how he's f'ing with Bon Jovi.

Tom (8:10pm): He's a mess.  Worse than a Biggest Loser contestant.  Years everywhere.  *tears.

Tom (8:11pm): Katrina Parker melted my face off.  btw - she looks like a different person now.

Ali (8:16pm): For the love of God, sing an upbeat song!  Oh shit, does she have a wig on now?  She looks like Adele.

Tom (8:18pm): Yupppppp. Is that a wig?

Ali (8:23pm): I honestly don't know.  Haha.  Adam Just flat out told her she was never one of his favorites. 

Ali (8:24pm): I like almost feel sorry for James Massone.  He is legit terrified, but it comes across as cocky.

Tom (8:25pm): He wasn't good AT ALL.  We already have Mike Posner.

Ali (8:25pm): Cheesa is bringin' it on this team performance.

Tom (8:26pm): She dominated.

Ali (8:29pm): Yea, she kinda did.  I think Maitai blows.

Ali (8:30pm): Yes, I spelled Mai Tai.  Like the drink.  *Mathai.  Whatever.

Tom (8:30pm): She's an Indian Dia Frampton wannabe.

Ali (8:30pm): Except Dia Frampton was awesome.

Tom (8:31pm): Truth

Ali (8:58pm): Cheesa is a chunker.  And dat dress ain't helpin' gurl.

Tom (8:58pm): Haha

Ali (9:00pm): I liked Pip at first, but now I find his shtick annoying.  He's just so boring.

Tom (9:02pm): I gave him credit for choosing a Killers song a week or two back, but I've been over his shtick.

Ali (9:10pm): Yea.  Same.  I love that Adam is just playing the drums and that's it.  No singing.

Tom (9:11pm): He's like Blake, takes the backseat.

Ali (9:13pm): Yep.  My girl Juliet got a hair dye. Don't like it.

Tom (9:14pm): She looks more like punk rock Simpson.

Ali (9:15pm): Yea, her performance kinda sucked.  She's way better than she sang.

Ali (9:34pm): Dang, that Mouseketeer beat Katrina for America's vote?!

Ali (9:35pm): Jamar's hair is whack.

Ali (9:50pm): Could Adam talk any fucking longer?  I can't believe they are letting him go on this long.

Ali (9:54pm): Um, Cheesa's save me song was garbage.

Ali (9:56pm): Natalie Imbruglia?  Yes, please.

Ali (10:00pm): Thank God he saved Juliet.  They finally got it all right this week.

So what we can learn from this week?

• From 8:31pm to 8:58pm there was a clear lull in the show, where I was either bored or I must have found the performances acceptable, but not amazing. 
• I believe the former Mouseketeer's rendition of Baby One More Time took place during this time frame, so that would make sense.  I found his song choice rather amusing and felt that it worked to his advantage. 
• I apparently did not deem it worthy of commenting on, but America must have agreed that they thought it worked as they voted him through to the next round.

• From 9:34pm to 10pm, I was talking to myself and Tom had lost all interest in the conversation.

• This was a relatively terrible critique.  In fact, I am a little disappointed in ourselves having re-capped it for you here as it is filled with no relevance whatsoever.  Next week will be better....

Of the remaining contestants, my top three (in no particular order) are as follows: Juliet and Jamar (I am a sucker for his positive energy) from Team CeeLo and Erin from Team Blake.  Who are you guys pulling for this season?  Be sure to tune in next week so we can re-cap together! 

Day Two - Still Diggin' It

So here I am, day two of blogging.  So much has changed, except for the fact that it has not at all.  I have told only a few people about the blog - maybe three?  I figure that is a big enough audience to start out with while I get my feet wet and try to get the hang of things.

For anyone who is in need of having their asses handed to them, start a blog.  It is the most humbling experience to know there is no one in this world who gives a shit about what you have to say except yourself.  Yet here I am....typing away.  I mean, I have to please my three "fans" right?  I cannot let them down.  FINALLY!  I can now appreciate and understand the pressures that Lindsay and Britney must have been under for so many years before they went off the deep end.  Such a slippery slope....

The good news is that I am already so much more cognizant and observant of my surroundings.  I feel like a real journalist or something - looking for the next "big" story.  I even found myself eavesdropping on a woman who - albeit very loudly - was talking on her cell phone on the train this morning.  I caught the tail end of the conversation and could not quite figure out whether it was a dog that was dying or if it were an actual human being that she simply disliked.  She lacked any emotion whatsoever, so it really could have gone either way.

All kidding aside, so far this has been so much fun!  I know I am only two posts deep, but forcing myself to learn something I knew basically nothing about has been a nice change of pace and I hope to learn even more as I go.  I also plan to challenge myself to produce content that will be interesting and keep me - and hopefully others - coming back for more.  I have a lot of ideas jotted down, but do not want to blow my wad all at once. 

So stay with me people....it is about to get a lot more interesting!

I Am Not A Blogger

Well... I guess this is it - my plunge into the blogosphere.  Even as I sit here typing my first post, I am only partially convinced I intend to go through with this.  I have no idea what has compelled me to move forward in setting this up, especially considering what a pain in the ass it was to create the blog name alone.  Combine that with the foreign language I was forced to decipher in creating the aesthetics, let's just say it is amazing that I am still as motivated to do this as I am.

While, admittedly, my perception of what it means to be a blogger may be a bit distorted, I would not agree that I am one.  Perez is a blogger, not me.  I do not believe I am savvy enough to add the title of "blogger" to my repertoire just yet.  What this actually is (for me) is a creative outlet, a therapeutic process to put my crazy thoughts in one place.  This is my way of taking a break from the daily grind to entertain myself (and hopefully, eventually, others) with my useless knowledge, my own misfortunes and, of course, nonsense.  Who knows, maybe I will learn something from all of this?!  Long shot, I know....

 

This seems as good a transition as any to call out a few things.  Okay, maybe just one underlying thing:

• I apologize in advance for offending anyone who may find themselves reading a perfectly acceptable blog page, only to find themselves smacked across the face with the profanity that sometimes finds its way into my words.  
• What I am trying to say is, I have been known to have a "potty mouth" at times. 
• Meaning, I use curse words to express the severity of a situation (or lack thereof). 

Now that the formalities are out of the way, allow me to move on to my next topic of discussion - my first shout out!  I would like to thank Tom for inspiring me to do this.  Without the creation of his own blog and our constant color commentating on anything and everything we come across in this great world, I would have never realized my full potential of expressing my views and opinions on so many irrelevant topics.

Finally, I would also like to give a big thank you (or F you, rather) to this guy.  A fellow equal-opportunity hater, who has "stolen" my million dollar idea.  Without you, sir, I would not have considered starting this blog in the first place.  More on that another time....  And also, for the avoidance of doubt, I have never met Matthew nor do I have any authorization in saying he stole my idea.  I am sure he is a fine human being and I hate that he got his shit together before I thought of doing so.  And I hate that I own and love his book.

And so it begins, my new life as [what may someday be referred to as] a blogger.  This is it, don't get scared now!